So yesterday I made a wonderfully delicious soup! Here is the recipe:
http://www.fortheloveofcooking.net/2011/05/turkey-italian-sausage-and-cheese-tortellini-soup-and-giveaway-winner.html
I added a bit more garlic because I LOVE garlic. Also, having fresh basil makes a difference! Love having my cute little basil plant for recipes like this. And I didnt use turkey sausage, I used mild italian sausage instead.
Today I made Naan! Which is a traditional Indian flat bread. Super easy! Recipe:
http://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/2010/09/naan-127-recipe-016-serving.html
It wasnt as pretty as hers but it was tasty! I used it for the burgers we had tonight in place of tortillas.
For the burgers I made fresh pico de gallo (roma tomatoes, jalepeno, red onion, cilantro and lime juice). And in my meat I add bread crumbs, one egg, horseradish sauce, mustard, ketchup, oregano and red pepper flakes. Makes the burger soooo flavorfull! Top the burger with pepper jack, pico, bacon and lettuce, slap in between the fresh Naan and YUM!
Now I am going to go eat a spoon full of Nutella because I have 100 calories left for today :)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Search for the perfect chicken pot pie.
We used to go to Adam's Grandmama's house every wedensday and sunday to eat with the family. And every few weeks she would make chicken pot pie. This wasnt like frozen Marie Calender's junk, it was homemade and delish! I have been trying to replicate it for a while, and since she passed away it has kind of become my mission in life to make her chicken pot pie.
Well saturday night was another failed attempt. My potatoes didn't cook through and the pie itself was too dry. On to another reciepe!
This week's menu consists of : Quesadilla burgers with spicy cauliflower poppers, beef chili stuffed zuccinni, and italian sausage and cheese tortillini soup. I will post reciepes as I make them! I am hoping to find time today to make Naan. I want to have it for my avocado chicken salad this weekend, we'll see.
Here is the link to the reciepe for the Chicken and Spinach Tortilla Bake that I made last week, it was SO good! I shredded the chicken and browned it instead of leaving the breasts whole. I thought it was easier to spoon out that way.
http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/dinner-recipes/chicken-and-spinach-tortilla-bake
Well saturday night was another failed attempt. My potatoes didn't cook through and the pie itself was too dry. On to another reciepe!
This week's menu consists of : Quesadilla burgers with spicy cauliflower poppers, beef chili stuffed zuccinni, and italian sausage and cheese tortillini soup. I will post reciepes as I make them! I am hoping to find time today to make Naan. I want to have it for my avocado chicken salad this weekend, we'll see.
Here is the link to the reciepe for the Chicken and Spinach Tortilla Bake that I made last week, it was SO good! I shredded the chicken and browned it instead of leaving the breasts whole. I thought it was easier to spoon out that way.
http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/dinner-recipes/chicken-and-spinach-tortilla-bake
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Gryffin.
Adam and I decided we were ready for a family in the summer of 2010. We had been married almost 2 years, and it felt like the natural next step. Everything Adam and I do begins with a discussion and a plan. We are not the type of people who let things go awry. After doing some soul searching and calculating, we decided that July would be my last pack of birth control.
I will never forget the morning I found out I was pregnant, we had just moved back to Elberton the saturday before, due to circumstances out of our control, and we were pretty overwelmed. It was Tuesday, November 23rd at 10 am. I woke up and thought I might as well take a test because I had one pack left. I did the whole pee-stick thing, went and made some oatmeal, watched Will and Grace, then went back to check the test. Two pink lines! I remember bursting into hysterical laughter because of course I got pregnant just in time for everything to turn upside down. The next 8 months would be the worst and best of my life.
We were faced with breaking our lease on our apartment in Athens (which cost a small fortune), moving back to our dinky house in Elberton, and completely remodleing the house to make it baby friendly. The loan process was stressful to say the least, and the actual construct was a disaster. If I knew what I do now then, I would never have put us through that. I would have left the house exactly the way it was and bought a chest to keep Gryf's clothes in. I wish more than anything I would have been allowed to enjoy my pregnancy the way I was supposed to.
We had had a girl name picked out for months, and were having a terrible time coming up with a boy name. The week before our gender scan it just came to me out of no where, and I was so surprised I hadn't already thought of it! Adam and I became fast friends when I was a senior in high school and one of the key things that we bonded over was the Harry Potter novel series. It may seem silly to most people, but we both truly adore the books. Gryffin's name does come from Gryffindor, and we chose his middle to be Alaster because we wanted a strong traditional name.
I went into labor with Gryffin on a tuesday morning. I woke up and knew right away that something was going on. I got our bags together, showered, did some laundry, and straightened the house up. Around 11am I laid down to time my contractions, they were only about 30 seconds long and 5-6 minutes apart. They were not bothersome at all at that point. I had my 38 week check up that day at 2:30. When the nurse checked my blood pressure she said she definitely thought I was in labor because my blood pressure was elevated (I had no addition pre-eclamptic symptoms so that wasnt really a concern). My midwife checked me and I was 3 cm and 75% effaced. She told me it was "pre-labor" and that I was definitely not having a baby today, I should go home and rest.
We drove the 40 miles back home, all while my contractions were getting stronger and stronger. By the time we got to our house, I was in a fair amount of pain. I sat on the couch and started timing my contractions, now they were 1 minute long and 3 minutes apart, back to Athens we went! Got to the hospital and was put in triage, and moved to a regular birthing suite by 9 pm. I had practiced physically and prepared mentally for a natural birth, I had my heart set on it. However, when I was hooked up to the monitors it became apparent that Gryffin was in distress. His heart rate was dropping with every contraction. Because of this, I had to lay on my left side and not move. That is not was I had learned to do. I was prepared to walk the halls, use a birthing ball, get in a warm tub, and squat to relieve the pain...not lay perfectly still in a bed. At 4 am on wedensday my midwife came in and told me she felt I had no choice but to receive the epidural and rest, because my labor was not progressing at all (which, of course it wasnt because I wasnt moving). I was now 18 hourse in and only 4.5 cm.
I let her break my water, which was excruciating and led to my decision to get the epidural. Sitting on the side of the bed with my knees tucked up to my chest while enduring back to back chart topping contractions was the worst experience I can remember. After the epidual, I slept for 3 hours and woke up in a much better mood. Luckily, I never pushed the button that would give me more pain medication so by the time I woke up, the epidural was wearing off. I could feel the contractions again, I could feel that Gryffin had finally moved down and that it was time to push.
My midwife came back at 8:05, told me it was time, and started to prepare the room. Gryffin was born at 8:42 am on Wedensday, July 20th, 2011. I am so thankful that the epidural was wearing off and that I was able to push instinctively. I have thought a lot about that night since, and I wish I had had the clear head and drive to request that I be allowed to get out of bed and try to force my labor to progress. I have carried immense guilt and disapointment about the decision to have the epidural. Next time I will know to trust my body and not be persuaded, I guess that comes with experience. Maybe next time I will be in a place where a home birth will be possible, or maybe at least a birthing center. I will have my natural birth someday!
I will never forget the morning I found out I was pregnant, we had just moved back to Elberton the saturday before, due to circumstances out of our control, and we were pretty overwelmed. It was Tuesday, November 23rd at 10 am. I woke up and thought I might as well take a test because I had one pack left. I did the whole pee-stick thing, went and made some oatmeal, watched Will and Grace, then went back to check the test. Two pink lines! I remember bursting into hysterical laughter because of course I got pregnant just in time for everything to turn upside down. The next 8 months would be the worst and best of my life.
We were faced with breaking our lease on our apartment in Athens (which cost a small fortune), moving back to our dinky house in Elberton, and completely remodleing the house to make it baby friendly. The loan process was stressful to say the least, and the actual construct was a disaster. If I knew what I do now then, I would never have put us through that. I would have left the house exactly the way it was and bought a chest to keep Gryf's clothes in. I wish more than anything I would have been allowed to enjoy my pregnancy the way I was supposed to.
We had had a girl name picked out for months, and were having a terrible time coming up with a boy name. The week before our gender scan it just came to me out of no where, and I was so surprised I hadn't already thought of it! Adam and I became fast friends when I was a senior in high school and one of the key things that we bonded over was the Harry Potter novel series. It may seem silly to most people, but we both truly adore the books. Gryffin's name does come from Gryffindor, and we chose his middle to be Alaster because we wanted a strong traditional name.
I went into labor with Gryffin on a tuesday morning. I woke up and knew right away that something was going on. I got our bags together, showered, did some laundry, and straightened the house up. Around 11am I laid down to time my contractions, they were only about 30 seconds long and 5-6 minutes apart. They were not bothersome at all at that point. I had my 38 week check up that day at 2:30. When the nurse checked my blood pressure she said she definitely thought I was in labor because my blood pressure was elevated (I had no addition pre-eclamptic symptoms so that wasnt really a concern). My midwife checked me and I was 3 cm and 75% effaced. She told me it was "pre-labor" and that I was definitely not having a baby today, I should go home and rest.
We drove the 40 miles back home, all while my contractions were getting stronger and stronger. By the time we got to our house, I was in a fair amount of pain. I sat on the couch and started timing my contractions, now they were 1 minute long and 3 minutes apart, back to Athens we went! Got to the hospital and was put in triage, and moved to a regular birthing suite by 9 pm. I had practiced physically and prepared mentally for a natural birth, I had my heart set on it. However, when I was hooked up to the monitors it became apparent that Gryffin was in distress. His heart rate was dropping with every contraction. Because of this, I had to lay on my left side and not move. That is not was I had learned to do. I was prepared to walk the halls, use a birthing ball, get in a warm tub, and squat to relieve the pain...not lay perfectly still in a bed. At 4 am on wedensday my midwife came in and told me she felt I had no choice but to receive the epidural and rest, because my labor was not progressing at all (which, of course it wasnt because I wasnt moving). I was now 18 hourse in and only 4.5 cm.
I let her break my water, which was excruciating and led to my decision to get the epidural. Sitting on the side of the bed with my knees tucked up to my chest while enduring back to back chart topping contractions was the worst experience I can remember. After the epidual, I slept for 3 hours and woke up in a much better mood. Luckily, I never pushed the button that would give me more pain medication so by the time I woke up, the epidural was wearing off. I could feel the contractions again, I could feel that Gryffin had finally moved down and that it was time to push.
My midwife came back at 8:05, told me it was time, and started to prepare the room. Gryffin was born at 8:42 am on Wedensday, July 20th, 2011. I am so thankful that the epidural was wearing off and that I was able to push instinctively. I have thought a lot about that night since, and I wish I had had the clear head and drive to request that I be allowed to get out of bed and try to force my labor to progress. I have carried immense guilt and disapointment about the decision to have the epidural. Next time I will know to trust my body and not be persuaded, I guess that comes with experience. Maybe next time I will be in a place where a home birth will be possible, or maybe at least a birthing center. I will have my natural birth someday!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Baby wearing safety!
One of my friends got a new wrap and it made me think of some baby wearing safety tips!
First, never use a sling or wrap that is made of a stretchy material. It can give way and not support the baby.
Second, and I see this waaaaaaaaay too often, there is really only ONE position a baby should be carried in while in an infant carrier, and that is facing IN. The baby's legs should always be "froggied" which is when their knees are above the hip. If the baby is worn facing out, it puts too much pressure on the groin and puts baby's hips in an unnatural position. Here is some info a friend of mine posted a while back:
Proper Positioning in any Baby Carrier: Upright Facing In
This positioning applies to any carrier – ring sling, pouch, wrap, mei tai & soft structured (buckle) carriers and to babies of all ages. If the carrier does not allow for this positioning, it is not suitable. Older babies (6 months+) should be carried in this same position on your hip or your back.
We recommend always ensuring that your baby is positioned in your carrier as follows:
Vertically, on your chest, with baby’s bum at or above your navel
Knees above bum, in a frog legged or M position
Spine rounded
Head turned to the side, with baby’s chin well above his chest to avoid closure of the airway
The fabric of the carrier needs to be properly tightened to support your baby in this position. Fabric should be spread from one knee to the other & must not block the baby’s mouth or nose in any way.
You may notice that the manufacturer’s instructions provided with your carrier suggest positioning that does not meet these requirements - forward facing or cradle positions specifically. We recommend against wearing your baby in either of those positions.
Research consistently shows us that when babies are held vertically skin to skin on the parent’s chest, their heart rate, respiratory rate & temperature are stabilised*. Additionally, they cry less, breastfeed more effectively & grow more quickly*. Dr Nils Bergman, a physician & researcher who has extensively studied the immensely beneficial practice of keeping babies in their habitat - vertically, between the mother’s breasts, says: "The baby is in the right place and therefore has the right behaviour."
The cradle & the forward facing positions continue to be taught by some manufacturers & educators, but we recommend you avoid using these positions. They make it difficult to position the baby safely, are ergonomically incorrect for the baby as well as the wearer & appear to contribute to breastfeeding problems.
Babywearing is a wonderful tool that gives babies the minimum they expect - to be carried by their mother. It is also a learned skill that requires a bit of background knowledge to safely perform. Please always be certain that your baby is safely carried, you are always responsible for your baby’s safety.
Babywearing is a wonderful bonding tool, when done correctly! Happy babywearing, friends!
<3
Bibliography used to develop Proper Positioning
-Skin contact (kangaroo care) shortly after birth on the neurobehavioral responses of the term newborn: a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics 113(4):858-65.
-Tessier R, M Cristo, S Velez, M Giron, JG Ruiz-Palaez, -Y Charpak and N Charpak. (1998) Kangaroo mother care and the bonding hypothesis. Pediatrics 102:e17.
-Anisfeld E, Casper V, Nozyce M, Cunningham N.
(1990) Does infant carrying promote attachment? An experimental study of the effects of increased physical contact on the development of attachment. Child Dev 61:1617-1627.
-Quebec Coroner Jaques Robinson warning as reported in The Globe & Mail, Feb 05 2009
-Bergman, N.J., Linley, L.L, & Fawcus, S.R. (2004). Randomized controlled trial of skin-to-skin contact from birth versus conventional incubator for physiological stabilization in 1200- to 2199-gram newborns. Acta Paediatrica, 93, 779-785.
-Charpak, N., Ruiz-Pelaez, J.G., Figueroa, Z., & Charpak, Y. (1997).
Kangaroo mother versus traditional care for newborn infants <2000
grams: A randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics, 100(4), 682-688.
– Hunziker UA, Garr RG. (1986) Increased carrying reduces infant
crying: A random-ized controlled trial. Pediatrics 77:641-648 -Durand, R., Hodges, S., LaRock, S. Lund, L., Schmid, S. Swick, D., Yates, T., & Perez, A. (1997). The effect of skin-to-skin breast-feeding in the immediate recovery period on newborn thermoregulation and blood glucose values. Neonatal Intensive Care, 10, 23-29.
-Messmer, P.R., Rodriguez, S., Adams, J., Gentry, J.W., Washburn, K., Zabaleta, I., & Abreu, S. (1997). Effect of Kangaroo care on sleep time for neonates. Pediatric Nursing, 23(4), 408-414.
-Christensson, K., Siles, C., Moreno, L., Belaustequi, A., de la Fuente, P., Lagercrantz, H., Puyol, P., & Winberg, J. (1992).
Temperature, metabolic adaptation and crying in healthy full-term newborns cared for skin-to-skin or in a cot. Acta Paediatrica, 81, 488-493.
-Wahlberg, V., Affonso, D., & Persson, B. (1992). A retrospective comparative study using the kangaroo method as a complement to standard incubator care. European Journal of Public Health, 2(1), 34-37.
-Meyer, K., & Anderson, G.C. (1999). Using kangaroo care in a clinical setting with full-term infants having breastfeeding difficulties.
American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 24, 190-192.
-Gray, L., Watt, L., & Blass, E.M. (2000). Skin-to-skin contact is analgesic in healthy newborns. Pediatrics, 105, 14.
-Ludington-Hoe, S.M., Lewis, T., Morgan, K., Cong, X., Anderson, L., Reese, S. (2006). Breast-infant temperature synchrony with twins during shared Kangaroo Care. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 35, 1-9.
-Insel, T.R. (1997). A neurobiological basis of social attachment.
American Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 726-735.
-Carter, S.C. (1998). Neuroendocrine perspectives on social attachment and love. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 23, 779-818.
-Lamb, M.E. (1982). Individual differences in infant sociability:
Their origins and implications for cognitive development. In H.W.
Reese & L. P. Lipsitt (Eds.), Advances in child development and behavior
First, never use a sling or wrap that is made of a stretchy material. It can give way and not support the baby.
Second, and I see this waaaaaaaaay too often, there is really only ONE position a baby should be carried in while in an infant carrier, and that is facing IN. The baby's legs should always be "froggied" which is when their knees are above the hip. If the baby is worn facing out, it puts too much pressure on the groin and puts baby's hips in an unnatural position. Here is some info a friend of mine posted a while back:
Proper Positioning in any Baby Carrier: Upright Facing In
This positioning applies to any carrier – ring sling, pouch, wrap, mei tai & soft structured (buckle) carriers and to babies of all ages. If the carrier does not allow for this positioning, it is not suitable. Older babies (6 months+) should be carried in this same position on your hip or your back.
We recommend always ensuring that your baby is positioned in your carrier as follows:
Vertically, on your chest, with baby’s bum at or above your navel
Knees above bum, in a frog legged or M position
Spine rounded
Head turned to the side, with baby’s chin well above his chest to avoid closure of the airway
The fabric of the carrier needs to be properly tightened to support your baby in this position. Fabric should be spread from one knee to the other & must not block the baby’s mouth or nose in any way.
You may notice that the manufacturer’s instructions provided with your carrier suggest positioning that does not meet these requirements - forward facing or cradle positions specifically. We recommend against wearing your baby in either of those positions.
Research consistently shows us that when babies are held vertically skin to skin on the parent’s chest, their heart rate, respiratory rate & temperature are stabilised*. Additionally, they cry less, breastfeed more effectively & grow more quickly*. Dr Nils Bergman, a physician & researcher who has extensively studied the immensely beneficial practice of keeping babies in their habitat - vertically, between the mother’s breasts, says: "The baby is in the right place and therefore has the right behaviour."
The cradle & the forward facing positions continue to be taught by some manufacturers & educators, but we recommend you avoid using these positions. They make it difficult to position the baby safely, are ergonomically incorrect for the baby as well as the wearer & appear to contribute to breastfeeding problems.
Babywearing is a wonderful tool that gives babies the minimum they expect - to be carried by their mother. It is also a learned skill that requires a bit of background knowledge to safely perform. Please always be certain that your baby is safely carried, you are always responsible for your baby’s safety.
Babywearing is a wonderful bonding tool, when done correctly! Happy babywearing, friends!
<3
Bibliography used to develop Proper Positioning
-Skin contact (kangaroo care) shortly after birth on the neurobehavioral responses of the term newborn: a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics 113(4):858-65.
-Tessier R, M Cristo, S Velez, M Giron, JG Ruiz-Palaez, -Y Charpak and N Charpak. (1998) Kangaroo mother care and the bonding hypothesis. Pediatrics 102:e17.
-Anisfeld E, Casper V, Nozyce M, Cunningham N.
(1990) Does infant carrying promote attachment? An experimental study of the effects of increased physical contact on the development of attachment. Child Dev 61:1617-1627.
-Quebec Coroner Jaques Robinson warning as reported in The Globe & Mail, Feb 05 2009
-Bergman, N.J., Linley, L.L, & Fawcus, S.R. (2004). Randomized controlled trial of skin-to-skin contact from birth versus conventional incubator for physiological stabilization in 1200- to 2199-gram newborns. Acta Paediatrica, 93, 779-785.
-Charpak, N., Ruiz-Pelaez, J.G., Figueroa, Z., & Charpak, Y. (1997).
Kangaroo mother versus traditional care for newborn infants <2000
grams: A randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics, 100(4), 682-688.
– Hunziker UA, Garr RG. (1986) Increased carrying reduces infant
crying: A random-ized controlled trial. Pediatrics 77:641-648 -Durand, R., Hodges, S., LaRock, S. Lund, L., Schmid, S. Swick, D., Yates, T., & Perez, A. (1997). The effect of skin-to-skin breast-feeding in the immediate recovery period on newborn thermoregulation and blood glucose values. Neonatal Intensive Care, 10, 23-29.
-Messmer, P.R., Rodriguez, S., Adams, J., Gentry, J.W., Washburn, K., Zabaleta, I., & Abreu, S. (1997). Effect of Kangaroo care on sleep time for neonates. Pediatric Nursing, 23(4), 408-414.
-Christensson, K., Siles, C., Moreno, L., Belaustequi, A., de la Fuente, P., Lagercrantz, H., Puyol, P., & Winberg, J. (1992).
Temperature, metabolic adaptation and crying in healthy full-term newborns cared for skin-to-skin or in a cot. Acta Paediatrica, 81, 488-493.
-Wahlberg, V., Affonso, D., & Persson, B. (1992). A retrospective comparative study using the kangaroo method as a complement to standard incubator care. European Journal of Public Health, 2(1), 34-37.
-Meyer, K., & Anderson, G.C. (1999). Using kangaroo care in a clinical setting with full-term infants having breastfeeding difficulties.
American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 24, 190-192.
-Gray, L., Watt, L., & Blass, E.M. (2000). Skin-to-skin contact is analgesic in healthy newborns. Pediatrics, 105, 14.
-Ludington-Hoe, S.M., Lewis, T., Morgan, K., Cong, X., Anderson, L., Reese, S. (2006). Breast-infant temperature synchrony with twins during shared Kangaroo Care. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 35, 1-9.
-Insel, T.R. (1997). A neurobiological basis of social attachment.
American Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 726-735.
-Carter, S.C. (1998). Neuroendocrine perspectives on social attachment and love. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 23, 779-818.
-Lamb, M.E. (1982). Individual differences in infant sociability:
Their origins and implications for cognitive development. In H.W.
Reese & L. P. Lipsitt (Eds.), Advances in child development and behavior
Saturday, February 18, 2012
For starters...
Hello! I am weirdly excited to start this blog adventure! I will start with a little intro to let everyone know the theme of the blog so you will know if you'll want to check back or delete this url from your browser history. I am 23, have been married for 3 years, and have a 7 month old baby boy named Gryffin (yes, his name is a Harry Potter reference, we'll talk about that later). While a was pregnant with G I began reading and learning everything I could about pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care. Little did I know my ideals would soon dramatically change when it came to those topics. When I first found out I was pregnant I joked that my worst fear was that I would get to the hospital too late for an epidural. I had also not given much thought to breastfeeding, or any other aspects of infant care. Things changed pretty quickly! As Gryffin gets bigger, the way I do things becomes crunchier and crunchier :)
One major focus here will be my breastfeeding experience. I am very proud to say that we are still going strong at 7 months with zero formula supplementation!
Also, I am learning more about how to lead a healthier lifestyle by removing all processed foods from our diet. By the time Gryffin is a toddler I want us to be a completely whole foods family, with no artificial foods or dyes. I am having such a blast learning how to parent in a more holistic style. I hope I can use this blog to share it with others! :-)
p.s: I chose the name "Bonzai Mama" because Bonzai is synonimous with "gung ho," "dedicated," "eager," and "proactive." That's me!
One major focus here will be my breastfeeding experience. I am very proud to say that we are still going strong at 7 months with zero formula supplementation!
Also, I am learning more about how to lead a healthier lifestyle by removing all processed foods from our diet. By the time Gryffin is a toddler I want us to be a completely whole foods family, with no artificial foods or dyes. I am having such a blast learning how to parent in a more holistic style. I hope I can use this blog to share it with others! :-)
p.s: I chose the name "Bonzai Mama" because Bonzai is synonimous with "gung ho," "dedicated," "eager," and "proactive." That's me!
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